Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-13
supply of Beef Cattle.

Four years ago the beef consump-
tion of Los Angeles was 1900 head
of cattle for the year. Last year the
consumption increased to $4,000.
There is food for thought in that
wonderful increase of food for the
stomach, and the question as to
where our future supply is to come
from is one of prime importance. We
are told by those whoare wise in these
matters that the feed of Arizona does
not produce good, palateable meat;
that it lacks the nutritious qualities of
the bunch grass OF Nevada. There is
quite fine grazing country in lnyo
county, but it is too limited to afford
relief to markets this side of the
mountains. Besides all the cattle
raised there can be sold within short
drives in Nevada. The Carson valley
range is extensive and supports and
fattens very large herds. Besides the
Carson valley, there are fine cattle
ranges all through Nevada clear to
the Utah line; and the entire valley
Of the Truckee and the Humboldt, as
far as Elko, is being turned into an
excellent alfalfa-raising country, and
by the aid of irrigation from those
streams, that region is now support
ing very extensive herds of cattle.
But hardly in any event can the people
of Southern California count upon re-
ceiving supply Of beef from
that distance. Ii Mr.. ID. o. Mills
would extend his narrow-gauge rail-
road-the Carson and Colorado-from
Keeler to Mohave, distance of sew
enty miles, we could receive a very
considerable supply of meat from the
great Carson valley range, as well as
from other portions of southeastern
Nevada. But we cannot count with
any degree of certainty upon this con-
nection for year or two. That it will
be made we have not much doubt,
because it is a business necessity of
that railroad to have an outlet some
time; and no more promising one, or
one that can be built at SO little cost,
could be had than is afforded by its ex
tension to Los Angeles by way of
Mohave. But in the meantime We
shall have to feed our rapidly increas-
ing thousands. Where will it come
from. No finer grazing country ever
ex listed than this Southern California
region used to be. Land, however,
has become too valuable for other pur-
poses to be now devoted to cattle rails
ing on the old plan. Yet it does not
follow that because we cannot devote
our lands to old-fashioned grazing, we
cannot make money and do great
deal towards furnishing the needed
supply of beef by stall-feeding. The
moist lands of this county are extern
sive. Thousands of acres of the
lands south and east of San
Gabriel, above the Monte, are wet.
There is another extensive tract Of
wet land between this city and Santa
Monica, on the Cienega ranch. AL
falfa could be raised in great quantities
in these moist lands. From three to
five crops could be cut every year, and
each acre would thus raise and fatten
hall dozen beef cattle. Then we
have extensive tracts of land under
bitches that could be made to pay well
with alfalfa crops devoted to the STALL
feeding of cattle. Gospel Swamp and
Republican Valley could furnish a
large contingent of beasts for the
butchers. " Increased feed can also be
secured on the coast ranches between
the San joaquin and the Margaritas
rs soon as they are cut up and worked
by small farmers. Thus, it will be
seen that large portion of our beef
supply can be raised here and in the
adjoining counties, if We devote our
wet lands to alfalfa, and cut up the
big ranches into small holdings. This
will be done, of necessity, for the de-
m and for beef is raising the price so
steadily that it will be found to pay
TO stall-feed our cattle for market.
Besides, the meat of the cattle thus
fed is far superior to the beef of cattle
grazed upon ranges. A very pofitable
and extensive industry is bound to
spring up here in the next year in
staIl-fed cattle.